The plans are well underway for Wilton Library’s spring benefit, Beyond Words, on Friday, April 4 beginning at 7 p.m.. The event is one of the highlights of the library’s fundraising efforts and it will be a combination of familiar and new happenings for guests including a new dining experience, live music throughout the library, and a dedicated room for a silent auction and a lively live auction hosted by an on-air radio personality.
Beyond Words is made possible in part through the generous support of the Amadeo Family and the Romer Family. The Signature sponsor is Bankwell in Wilton, Gold sponsor is Fairfield County Bank, Silver sponsors are Cummings & Lockwood/Michael Kaelin and the Greens of Cannondale, and Wilton Magazine is the Media sponsor.
Scrumptious cuisine will be provided this year by Wilton’s Bianco Rosso with appetizers passed to the guests and plates to please everyone’s palate at three different live buffet serving stations. The event décor will be based on the paintings of Mondrian, the Dutch artist, enhancing the library’s spaces with clean lines and bold coloring reminiscent of the abstract artist. As in previous years, a custom made cocktail will be the evening’s signature drink. This year’s libation is being dubbed “The Mondrian.”
Michele Klink, the event co-chair noted, “The evening is essentially a lovely cocktail party in the community’s living room – also known as the Wilton Library. The library is such a strong part of this community; it is fitting to celebrate it in this beautiful facility and to lend our support any way we can – all while we’re enjoying our friends and meeting new ones.”
The live and silent auctions, staples of the library’s fundraiser, will be held in the Brubeck Room this year. According to Jennifer Albee, the event co-chair, “We’ve used different areas for the auctions and we find that a dedicated room works best for the library and for guests. We’ll be in the spacious Brubeck Room which gives us a wonderful place to display our 70 carefully selected items on which people can bid including children’s birthday parties, sports trips, arts and culture experiences, and paintings from artists.”
The live auction will be headlined by Dave Barrett, CBS Radio news anchor and correspondent. The auction includes a “Horse Whisperer”-type experience and photo shoot, extraordinary rare wines, great rival sports tickets to a Yankees/Red Sox game, an invitation to a private wine auction, and a food truck that could host a family or neighborhood party. Ms. Albee added, “With the wonderful items we have, we expect the live auction to be rather raucous this year and part of the entertainment.”
Tickets for this year’s event range from $150 for seniors age 65 and over to $2,500 for a Reserved Table for Four with VIP parking, wait service (new this year), podium recognition and $400 in auction scrip. Tickets can now be purchased online by visiting www.wiltonlibrary.org and clicking on Beyond Words, by calling 203.762.3950, ext. 239, or by stopping by the Circulation Desk in the library. For the convenience of shoppers, a Beyond Words table will be set up at the Village Market on Wednesday and Thursday, March 19 and 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for ticket purchases. People are reminded to purchase their tickets early as the event has sold out in the past. For any individual or business wishing to be sponsors of the event, please call Jennifer Wallace at 203.762.3950, ext. 239.
Elaine Tai-Lauria, executive director of the library, said, “It is heartwarming to see how much this community loves its library and is always helping us make it more than a collection of books – it is Beyond Words!”
As a tie-in to the library’s benefit, children ages pre-K through grade 5 will have a chance to learn about Piet Mondrian in two crafty sessions. Art Smart: Mondrian Masterpieces takes place on Thursday, March 13, from 3 to 4 p.m. for grades 3 to 5, and 4 to 5 p.m. for kids in pre-K through grade 2. Betsy Huffman, an event committee member, will teach the children about Mondrian’s early 20th century artistic style and then the children can get creative with the red, blue, and yellow hues. After the masterpieces are complete, the artwork will hang in an art show during the Beyond Words event. To register the children for the art sessions, visit www.wiltonlibrary.org and click on Events or call 203.762.3950, ext. 217.
Wilton Library is located at 137 Old Ridgefield Rd. in the heart of Wilton Center. The library will close at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 4 in preparation for the fundraising benefit.